Korea challenges Japan for rechargeable battery throne

Korea is making significant headway in the electronics market. Samsung is creating larger and larger TVs, LG has the absolutely delectable Chocolate Phone, and so forth. While Japan has traditionally had a substantial chunk (as much as 67% in 2003) of the rechargeable battery market, Korean manufacturers are seeing huge opportunities in the sector and are pushing forward appropriately.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Korea had a 19.4% market share in 2003 and while they “still have to improve material technology and test technology to catch up with Japan”, they are making big strides in the right direction. For example, Samsung SDI has upped monthly production to 34 million cells, the world’s largest of any single factory.